Zaphod is the inept president of the galaxy in the absurdist Hitchhiker's caper. He hails from the planet Betelgeuse, is related to Ford Prefect through three common mothers, and invented the potent Pan-galactic Gargleblaster cocktail. He was also named worst dressed sentient being in the known universe (which is almost, but not quite as funny as the Vogons having the galaxy's third worst poetry, the first being a poor lady in England). I really like Sam Rockwell's portrayal of Zaphod in the 2005 movie version. He's wacky, but charming (how else could he have lured the much smarter Trillian?). He's loveable but a complete fool.

Fitting that Zaphod appears in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe as we have reached the end of the A to Z posts. Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned: usually the A to Z-ers do a wrap-up post in May. I'll have books to give away!

I love puppet Yoda the best, mainly because of his Muppet linkage, but CGI Yoda is pretty fierce too. In the prequels, he's a fighter and a dangerous Jedi to mess with who has years left before swamp retirement. While the Dagobah scenes in The Empire Strikes Back are some of the least interesting in the series, Yoda is who grounds Luke in understanding the force, which ultimately saves them from the empire. But he's just a little green dude with pointy ears! And yet, a legend.

I've already featured Star Wars several times this month. Instead of a question, I will leave you with this Yoda-esque Star Wars viewing suggestion, which reverses the standard order of the films. Perhaps the best way to watch the series as it stands: 4,5,1,2,3,6 (New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of Sith, Return of Jedi (or omit Clones entirely). This was not my idea, but it's pretty much right on. Thoughts?

Xander starts out as a loveable dork, but by the end of the series, he's earned his badge as a evil-distroying Scooby. One of the great themes in Buffy is how the chosen slayer, Buffy, Buffy is just as influenced by her normal friends as they are by her power. Xander struggles against his sidekick status in several story arcs throughout the series. I love it when a show can question a trope (like the hero and her buddies) and do something new with it. Xander doesn't go to college with Buffy and Willow, but moves to his parent's basement and gets a job, living as a "townie." He's always to the left of convention, and this within a group that slays vampires. One of my favorite episodes is when Xander is split into two Xanders, the other played by the actor's real life twin. Also, who doesn't love Xander? He gets so many good lines.

As if I could get through the A to Z challenge without featuring Supernatural. This coming from the gal who is auctioning a Supernatural-themed gift basket for a writers conference this weekend. Sam and Dean have been hunting ghosts, urban legends, demons, angels-gone-rogue, and all sorts of paranormal stuff for nine TV seasons, trekking the country in their dad's old Chevy Impala. The two brothers are fiercely loyal, to the point both of them have brought the other back from the dead or have done various shenanigans against their better judgement for the sake of saving the other. Their fight against outward evil and their own inner turmoil is what makes both of them so memorable.

I love the slow reveal throughout the series of what made Tom Riddle into the most feared wizard. Voldemort is barely spoken of, and his name surely never said aloud by any self-respecting wizard. So by the time we meet Voldy in the books & films, we expect him to be just as terrifying as the magic world considers him. Casting a powerful actor like Ralph Fiennes, I never once questioned Voldemort's potential for terror. That lack of nose and the cold, pale skin--plus all the snake connections--make him one of the best villains in literature and film. He's scary to look at, formidable to our gang of friendly wizards, and played masterfully by an incredible actor. Voldemort's defeat is a defining moment in the series.

OK, this Potter Puppet Pals video is old but I still love it. Warning: it will get stuck in your head!

Okay, this one is obscure, but for me, memorable. I used to watch SNL re-runs on Comedy Central and Nick at Nite and whichever other cable stations ran them. I've seen most seasons of SNL going back to its start. Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer is a ridiculous premise that still manages to make me laugh, probably because Phil Hartman is awesome. A caveman has been thawed out to the modern age ('90s) where he has attained a law degree. Yet, the world around him is still strange and frightening, which he uses to his advantage in court. It's absurdist comedy at its best and probably works best in small doses (unlike the later years attempt to adapt those Geico caveman commercials into a weekly sitcom).

Being a coaches wife in a small town that worships football can't be an easy gig. Tami and Coach Taylor often struggle with those dynamics, with Tami living in her husband's shadow, but her commitment to her family is wonderful to watch. Eventually, the character takes on more leadership roles within the community and school, and the series end (no spoilers) is a heartwarming reflection on how the Taylors work together to support each other. If you haven't watched the series, it's definitely not just about football. It's filmed beautifully and feels very organic. You won't see any TV studio living room sets here. There's a realness to the characters that isn't found often enough on TV.

From: Sabrina Fair (play), adapted for film in 1954 and 1995 as Sabrina

Known For: infatuation, witticisms

I wrote a Young Adult novel inspired by the Sabrina story, so the character is fresh in my mind. Audrey may be the more beloved Sabrina, as she was perfect for the role (and the fashion was amazing), though overall, I like the '90s version with Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford better. For one, some of the dated storytelling is revamped (no suicide attempt played for laughs--seriously, it's disturbing) and a little more focus on Sabrina figuring herself out while she's away in Paris. The love story is a lot of fun. Sabrina, a chauffeur's daughter living on the estate of a rich family, swoons over charmer David, but eventually falls for his crumudgeony brother Linus. The love story is very character driven, with each character changing somewhat toward the end. I also like that the '90s version captures a bit of the older film's charm.

Known For: the ability to absorb other mutant's powers (and some physical attributes)

Rogue has a pretty rich story in Marvel's comic universe, which upon reading about her further, makes me want to check out the Captain Marvel line for her involvement with Ms. Marvel's powers (I also saw current Captain Marvel writer Kelly Sue Deconnick in a panel at Portland's Comic Con last year which piqued my interest).

I imagine most people are familiar with Rogue through Anna Paquin's portrayal in the X-Men movies, where Rogue runs away after unintentionally hurting people, and joins up with Wolverine. Magneto tries to use Rogue for her power-stealing abilities, which is a source of conflict through the series. Anytime good vs. evil is featured, it's cool to see characters who struggle with how to use their power, and when they dissect perceived good and evil. Ultimately, Rogue must decide if she wants to be cured of her mutant powers, where she can freely touch others without harm.

Are you familiar with the X-Men universe? Who is your favorite character?

Good morning! The YA Buccaneers are hosting a motivation bootcamp from March - May for writers who need motivation and accountability.

Here are my progress updates from the past week:

AMELIA edits: 99% complete! And I believe I have narrowed down a new title.

Critique group: we had a successful meeting with a great exchange of ideas. I have to put my group's comments on hold while I finish editing this other manuscript.

No YARWA entries scored :(

I had a lightning bolt idea of how to potentially revise my shelved manuscript that did not sell. It's either genius or terrible. I checked out a bunch of resources from the library and next week I will look into this further!

SPRING FLING CONFERENCE! Friday and Saturday I'll be at a regional RWA conference. I'm signed up to help out with a few things, but mainly I'll be spending time with writer friends old and new, attending sessions, eating, book signings, etc. Very excited!

It's another Star Wars leading lady! I always loved the costuming for the queen, which help to define her character. I decided to look into it, and discovered the dress to the left was inspired by Mongolian royalty. Her heavily made up face and ornate hair helps to distinguish her as a royal since the queen was only a young teen when she took the throne. I like how Padme is shown both in and out of the makeup and heavy clothes, so her early friendship with Anakin feels more genuine--they're both kids, only a handful of years apart. There's even a book written by the award-winning costume designer Trish Biggar called Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars.

Speaking of costumes, Star Wars characters make very popular Halloween costumes. Have you or someone you've known ever dressed as a character from Star Wars?
(*raises hand* I've been Princess Leia--still have the wig!)

Princess Leia is the elegant but ocassionaly scrappy gal fighting for the rebellion against overlord Darth Vader. She's a bit of a lame-o with her blaster gun (one of her early scenes she all but gives herself up to stormtroopers) but let's stick with her through to the ice planet Hoth where she gets a little more bad-ass, and in the next film when she poses as a bounty hunter. She's not giving up on the fight against evil after Vader disintigrated her home planet (her home planet. That deserves some retribution). Given there aren't many women in the Star Wars universe, naturally every dude from her (then unknown) brother, to swagger-laden Han, to creepy-slick Lando wants to get with her. But Leia is focused on the mission to defeat the empire. Leia has more stories beyond the films in various book series which I am not well versed in (but am glad to know they exist!).

Oh, Scarlett. I love complicated characters, especially women. Often Hollywood/media/people? are quick to categorize female characters into either likeable or unlikeable, but what if they're both? Scarlett O'hara begins as entitled and jealous, lusting after Ashley Wilkes (who I personally always thought was rather lame), and weasles her way into his life despite his intentions toward sweet 'ole Melaine. And even when Ashley weds Melanie, Scarlett keeps trying for him. Oh, what a wicked Scarlett! we are expected to think. Only we keep following Scarlett through one tragedy after another, through the war, through her going hungry and working her land to save her home, and starting again. Her weasling ways save her, turning her into the real hero of the story. A woman who will fight for her name and her land. She's only sweet when she wants to be, and demure when it suits her. And that's what makes her so memorable.

Have you seen or read Gone With The Wind? Who is your favorite character?

You guys: Napoleon Dynamite came out ten years ago! Okay, now that I've recovered from that, Napoleon is one of my favorite movie characters for his utter strangeness. I love that this movie ever got made, and that it broke out of indie-dom into the mainstream. The humor is co-erced from oddity rather than outright jokes, and the whole vibe is the antithesis to most movie studio fare. The plot is minimal, with the movie mostly driven by strange characters and surroundings in Napoleon's life. But yet the film is also hopeful, showing shades of Napoleon's innocence as accepting of those around him, while himself often being shunned and ignored. It's like this sweet horror comedy, which shouldn't be possible, but somehow is. Napoleon: mouth-breather, drawer of fictional animals, feeder of llamas, dancer in moon boots.

I'm highlighting BET's Being Mary Jane because it's a fantastic, underrated gem currently on TV. Gabrielle Union plays complicated Mary Jane, a TV news anchor who forged her own way, while her secret, that she's dating a married man, begins to consume her. Mary Jane is imperfect, and as an audience we hurt for her, at the same time we can understand where she's coming from. She struggles with the morality of dating a married man, with outside factors constantly weighing in on her affair. But a man who loves her when she's lonely, who promises her the world, is hard to give up. She's the Other Woman we're conditioned to hate, only the other side isn't so easy to define. When you see a character for who she is, with all of her hurts and strengths displayed side by side, it's beautifully complicated. This show has an excellent cast and knows how to amp up the drama without ever overstepping into hammy soap-operea territory. Give it a chance, and start with the TV movie available on Netflix now.

Ah, Luna. She's one of those side characters who turned out to have a much greater role later in the series. Luna is beloved by many fans, with a whole slew of fanfic. Luna is first revealed as a spacey drifter, who later is revealed to have lost her mother at a young age. She and her father, who write a tabloid-type bulletin for the magical world, are among the few who take Harry's side initially when Voldemort is rumored to have returned from the dead. Luna is most likely a fan favorite because she's an outsider, she's bullied, and yet she forges ahead with little concern for her reputation. She's shown to be strong against opposition, especially seen in the later books/films with Dumbledore's army and assisting with finding the last Horcrux needed to defeat Voldemort.

I did not complete my revision checklist, however I readied a submission of my WIP for critique.

I brainstormed titles for the MS with my agent. I did some tweaking of that MS, mostly to the ending so that the language may more closely reflect one of the titles. (Also, I suck at coming up with titles). The other changes were inspired by a workshop I listened to about showing vs. telling, and ditching cliche character reactions like hearts pounding and leaping. :)

This Week's Goals

Agent feedback: more work on AMELIA. I plan to first make a list of what needs to be done and start with the easy stuff. It's only for the last section of the book but some of it is substantial

Focus most energy on AMELIA to get it back to agent ASAP

Critique group: use group to streamline title ideas, and for assistance on my AMELIA revision. I'm meeting with one of my critique partners early to go over stuff

Read and score 2 more YARWA entries (I have a total of 13 to judge by end of May)

Anytime casting news comes out for a film series based on a beloved book series, nobody likes the choices. And yet now, can you imagine anyone other than Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss? In the books, the end of the very first chapter Katniss volunteers as tribute in place of her sister, who was to be slated for the brutal fight-to-the-death games in the district's capital. Katniss is a survivalist, which is shown from the start when she hunts (illegally) to keep her mother and sister fed. She is a fighter, but interestingly is shown as compassionate when it comes to other contestants in the games. Her flaw is that sometimes she can overlook the present for the sake of the end result; the struggle she has with her compassion vs. her need to survive is what makes her, and the series, so compelling.

Some of us remember when Pirates of the Caribbean was just a boat ride at a theme park. Now, Jack Sparrow, created for the film franchise which debuted in 2003, is one of Disney's most recognizable characters. Throughout the films, Jack becomes less of a villain, though his true pirate nature is never too far off. Johnny Depp's unique take on the role, basing his performance off of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards (and I've also read he channeled cartoon skunk Pepe Lepew and even Angela Lansbury!) won him a Screen Actors Guild award and a Golden Globe. I remember being very excited by Depp's inclusion in the film since he's still my #1 favorite actor (going back to Cry Baby days) and I'm so glad Disney's gamble on the actor paid off. It's a fun series that embraces Depp's silliness with really fun storytelling.

While I enjoy Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Walken, (and there are many other versions), this ode to Ichabod comes from the recent TV adaptation Sleepy Hollow which debuted last fall on Fox. The show satisfies a scratch I didn't know I was itching for. Ichabod rises from his grave after the headless horseman makes an appearance in the modern age, and eventually partners with Lt. Abbie Mills who is investigating the death of her partner. The series combines supernatural elements, history (well, National Treasure-level history), and mystery in a really fun caper. Ichabod is perplexed by taxes levied on baked goods (sales tax on doughnuts), amazed that pistols can shoot more than one bullet before reloading, and spooked by technology in general. The show works in just enough fish-out-of-water elements for comic relief without going overboard.

From: Hannibal (TV), The Silence of the Lambs (film), both based on the book series by Thomas Harris

Known for: refined taste, psychotherapy, cannibalism

Admittedly, my knowledge of Hannibal Lecter comes from the wonderfully crafted current TV series Hannibal. If you aren't squeamish, go watch it now. It's beautifully shot, almost like an indie film. Mads Mikkelsen who plays Hannibal is beyond compare, but the whole cast is great. Hannibal is a formidable man, most terrifying in his silence, right before he strikes. He is the ultimate villain, a highly intelligent psychopath who blends in with society. I hate to say it, but the food he makes looks delicious. Except for the fact it's probably a person.

I just finished a re-watch of the series (inspired by recaps on Forever Young Adult). While it can be annoying that everyone in Stars Hollow talks exactly the same way, how many other shows have delved this deeply into mother-daughter relationships? Even going multi-generational with Lorelai's mom Emily. Each time I watch this show, I understand further a different character's point of view; how selfish Lorelai can be, how Emily is cold but ultimately loving, and well, I almost always want to hug Rory (except when she stole that boat). The Gilmores are smart, pop culture savvy, neurotic, make excellent friends, and are some of my all-time favorite ladies on TV. Neither Lorelai or Rory have fared well with men, but their mistakes add to their layers.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Good morning! The YA Buccaneers are hosting a motivation bootcamp from March - May for writers who need motivation and accountability.

Here are my progress updates from the past week:

Last Week's Goals:

Outline ending chapters for SUNSET SUMMER - Complete, and they aren't just outlined, they are written!

Write 2-4 new chapters - Complete (see above)

Plan out next draft issues, factors to add in, etc. - Started, but not a complete list

Complete A to Z blog posts for April - Complete

I have this tendency to start revising a draft before I have an ending, so I'm very glad I have an ending to work with. When wrapping up all the character arcs and plot points, I identified which areas need further developing. Still, writing The End was very satisfying!

This Week's Goals:

Create a checklist for next draft revision of SUNSET SUMMER

Work on first two items in revision list

Write a synopsis for agent on SUNSET SUMMER

Read a critique partner's manuscript

Read and score 2 submissions for YA-RWA's Rosemary Contest

This checklist approach for revision is a new one for me. I see other writers do that so I figured I'd try it. I usually just go back to chapter one and start reading through again, but I want to be more targeted with my approach. I'm excited for a new batch of contest entries, and for The Rosemary, these are all YA (where as for the Golden Heart I had non-YA romance entries to read and judge) plus we get to provide feedback, which I like doing and I learn so much.

From:Futurama TV series (created by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening)

Known for: "Good news, everyone!", ridiculous inventions

Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth is a member of the crew on Futurama, who often complicates situation more than he helps. My favorite thing about the professor was when he was shown in a flashback as having created "the first robot to be capable of qualifying for a boat loan."

It's too bad there aren't more action heroes like Ellen Ripley. As an officer in space who survives an alien infestation on her ship, she still could have been reduced to a stereotype (running and screaming in a helpless manner), but the combination of Sigourney Weaver's acting and the writing and direction of the film make her a layered character who stands out. The fact that the studio was highly uninterested in casting the lead as a woman--and an unknown, as Weaver was not known in films at that time--shows how much influence one dynamic character can have.

I was going to post a gif with the alien breathing down Ripley's face but it was seriously too gross.

Everyone's favorite FBI investigator into the paranormal! Dana Scully was hired to debunk Agent Fox Mulder's crazy theories on unsolved "X" file cases. Scully weathered a lot of bad hair and cheap suits throughout the years, but more noteworthy: her tireless pursuit of facts and evidence, putting up with Mulder, her dog Queequeg who disappeared in Quagmire (I am still sad about this!), her abduction (alien or goverment?) and in later years, mother to a baby with special powers.

Justified is a current show on the FX network. Crowder is a villain from the start of the series, and (debateably) still remains one through the series. Crowder looks out for himself via his own set of morals within the criminal industry. His primary nemesis is Raylan Givens, Justified's main character, but throughout the show he pretty much ticks off everybody you can name. I dare you not to root for this bad boy at some point if you watch it.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Just a quick post here today since many of us are busy with the A to Z blog challenge. Given April is when taxes are due in the U.S., this is first year (2013) that I wrote off writing expenses. It's a motivator to sign up for conferences and workshops and national memberships when it's part of my small business as a writer. Now to get to that pesky income stage, where I'm making money from my writing and not just spending my own money.

Here's to dreams, and for more complicated taxes. Cheers!

Stay encouraged everyone, and keep working toward your publication goals. Even if it's taxes that motivate you :)

Burton aka Gus is one of my favorite characters on any TV show. He's part straight man to fake psychic Shawn's constant chaos, but he often joins in with his own ridiculousness. Some of the funniest moments on the show are his snap reactions. He also is a Harry Potter fan, tap dancer, former a capella singer, has a "super sniffer" nose, and a seemingly bottomless stomach.

Psych just finished an eight season run on USA network. It's cleverly-written with a lot of in-jokes that reward viewers the more you watch. Out of a very funny cast, Gus is still my favorite. How can you not love him when Claire Huxtable plays his mom?

This is a great gateway series to anime, combining American and Japanese styles of animation, while also blending in themes of Chinese mythology. It may have aired on Nickelodeon, but it's not just a kids show! Aang is able to control all four nature elements. He's a loveable goof, but his abilities make him the one capable of ending war against the nations. Together with his friends, they work to save and rebuild the nations. The live action movie may have sucked, but the animated series is full of great storytelling, and gorgeous artistic moments.

Have you seen this series? If not, what is your favorite cartoon series?